Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Ramalea cochleata Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 4: 89 (1896).

Description : Flora (1985: 495–496 – as Ramalea cochleata).

Chemistry : Cortex K−, KC+ yellow; medulla K−, C−, Pd−; containing usnic, divaricatic and nordivaricatic acids.

N: Northland (N of Te Kao), Wellington (Silica Rapids, Tongariro National Park). S: Nelson (Red Hill). In the north, locally abundant below stunted Leptospermum scoparium and scattered Hakea, on leaf litter overlying open clay-cemented sand pavement at 80 m and associating with Cladonia capitellata, C. vulcanica, and abundant Thysanothecium hookeri. In Nelson on serpentine soil at c. 1500 m and associating there with Cladonia murrayi, C. ochrochlora, C. pleurota and C. sulcata. Probably more widely distributed in New Zealand, though still very poorly collected there. Also in Australia (Conran 1992; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Australasian

Illustrations : Conran (1992: 149, fig. 44A–D – as Ramalea cochleata); Hammer (2003a: 164, figs 5–8).

Notocladonia cochleata is characterised by: the terricolous habit; the persistent, crowded primary squamules; podetia 2–10 mm tall, arising from margins of squamules and becoming fissured–clathrate, branch axils open; and terminal, clustered–peltate apothecia at tips of podetia.